Executive Summary
In 2025, METRO quietly made transit more useful – and riders noticed.
METRO’s greatest successes have been the quietest. METRO made 16 routes more frequent, upgraded hundreds of bus stops, and built 15 miles of sidewalk. METRO made transit easier to use, and riders noticed – ridership grew 5% overall and 8% on the local bus network. Among the 25 largest U.S. transit agencies, METRO’s ridership has made the fourth best recovery since the pandemic began in 2020.
The stories in this report can help decision makers understand what’s working and what needs to improve. With feedback from more than 300 riders and analysis of performance data, this report provides deep insight on what riders need and how to provide it.
METRO must focus on riders’ priorities now…
Houstonians who depend on high-quality, affordable transportation options are METRO’s core customers. Fortunately, the features that make transit work better for core customers improve transit for everyone.
As METRO prepares the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, this report serves as a blueprint for how METRO can serve its existing riders better and attract new riders in the process.
LINK Houston recommends METRO:
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- Increase Frequency by running more service and buying more buses
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- Improve Reliability by moving buses faster through traffic and providing better real-time information
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- Expand Accessibility by building streets for people who walk, roll, and ride
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- Enhance Safety and Customer Experience through visible staffing and urban design
…and build projects to improve future transit.
METRO is facing pressure to cancel or modify voter-approved projects and use transit dollars for street resurfacing with no meaningful benefit to transit users. METRO should shift its focus to put riders first.
LINK Houston also recommends METRO:
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- Build the transit projects voters approved in the METRONext plan
View Equity in Transit 2025.
Want to learn more about how Equity in Transit 2025 was made?
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